Kerala Architect Builds Eco-Friendly House With 6200 Discarded Toys
Did you know that 80 percent of all toys end up in landfills, incinerators, or the ocean? To tackle this growing plastic problem, architectVinu Danieldesigned a circular house with its exterior wall made out of Earth blocks, Mangalore tiles, and toys! Aptly named the Toy Storey, this unique house has about 6,200 discarded toys on […]
Why painting your home white could help you survive heatwave
LONDON: At a seminar on building cooling strategies in the late 1990s, I vividly remember hearing that “in 30 years’ time, the climate of London will feel like Marseille’s today”. That warning stuck with me. Back then, it sounded both alarming and oddly appealing. Three decades on, it no longer feels theoretical. As a Londoner […]
Why 1000-YO Mirba in Arunachal is Now a Heritage Village
High in the serene hills of Tawang lies a village that time seems to have forgotten. Nestled within Mukto circle, Mirba stands as a living museum of tradition — untouched by modernity yet alive with the warmth of its people. For over a thousand years, this little hamlet has quietly endured in the mountains that […]
Ashok Rathod’s Oscar Foundation Transforms Kids’ Lives
When Ashok Rathod was 18, he began gathering children from Mumbai’s Ambedkar Nagar slum for weekend football matches. At the time, he had no great plan — just a desire to keep kids away from addiction, child marriage, and dropping out of school, which had consumed many of his own friends. What started as a […]
The IAS Getting Kids To Swap Screens With Sports
#thebetterindia From coding at Infosys to leading flood relief, IAS officer Prem Krishan S has seen it all. Today, he’s tackling a new crisis—kids trading play for screens. His district-wide “Swap Your Screen for a Sport” challenge has revived playgrounds in Pathanamthitta. Football, cricket, laughter, and teamwork are back! Proof that change starts with play. […]
I risk my life to save 1500 stray from Punjab’s floods
#thebetterindia Amid Punjab’s floods, Sonia Chowdhary risked her life to save the voiceless. Every day, her family, 20 volunteers & cook wade through flooded lanes, and feed 1500+ strays. From abandoned puppies to injured mothers, each one is healed, loved & sheltered at Voiceless Voice Foundation. Together, we can save them. Will you join them […]
14-YO Coimbatore Boy Gains Global Honour at Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025
More than 60,000 entries. From a pink flamingo caught mid-scratch to a top shot of an Asian elephant navigating its way through toxic waste, the photographs in the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 competition capture the astonishing beauty, diversity, and complexity of our natural world — and humanity’s deep connection to […]
Expert Toolkit To Prevent Suicide Among Youth
Trigger warning: mentions of suicide. This feature discusses suicide, suicidal thoughts, and mental health challenges. Please read with care, and take a break if you need to. If you or someone you know is struggling, we encourage you to reach out for support. “Mujhse nahi ho paya (I couldn’t do it). I am sorry, Papa.” […]
Why Indian Grandmothers Planted Marigolds in October
Feature image courtesy: Shutterstock On October afternoons, when the monsoon loosens its grip and the air smells faintly of drying earth, gardens across India quietly prepare for a burst of colour. If you grew up in an Indian home, you might remember this season not by calendars but by your grandmother’s hands, busy pushing tiny […]
Rat Snake Rescued from Delhi School by Wildlife SOS
Heavy monsoon rains had drenched South Delhi when panic rippled through a school campus. In the storeroom of Kendriya Vidyalaya, NMR, staff stumbled upon an unexpected guest — a large snake coiled in the corner. Instead of fear turning into chaos, what followed was a lesson in calm and coexistence. Acting swiftly, Principal Chandan Kohli […]